A timely new initiative from the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) is close to realisation; this is a programme of unified rules for ships sailing to Arctic and Antarctic regions - a move noted in last month's Editorial Comment and one to be welcomed by the marine industry in view of activities to develop oil, gas, and mineral reserves along the northern coast of Russia. Development of these Unified Requirements for Polar Ships, as they are called, emanated from IMO's Guidelines for Ships Operating in Arctic Ice-Covered Waters, which were promulgated in December 2002 as a joint MSC/MEPC circular (MSC/Circ. 1056, MEPC/Circ.399).
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